Latest news with #TeslaDiner
Fast Company
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
‘The overall vibe was total chaos': Tesla Diner goes viral for long waits and mixed reviews
In case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard, the Tesla Diner opened its doors in Hollywood last week, and online reviews have been pouring in. While some raved about the food, others were left underwhelmed. One TikTok user said her family waited five hours to get into the retro-futuristic spot—a common complaint among reviews. Sampling the entire menu, which is served in Cybertruck -shaped boxes, she gave the spicy chicken sandwich a 10 out of 10 and called the tuna melt a 'sleeper hit.' The imaginatively named Tesla Burger, however, was 'giving overcooked smash burger,' she said. Another popular food reviewer, who posts under the handle @1hrlunchbreak, ordered $100 worth of food, including the hot dog (7.8 out of 10), the cinnamon roll (8.4), and the buttermilk biscuit with chorizo gravy—minus a missing egg—which still earned a 7. 'Overall the food was good but I wouldn't put anything in the 9s,' he concluded. The online menu, created by Le Cordon Bleu graduate Eric Greenspan (who also helped launch MrBeast Burger), features items like a grilled cheese, Wagyu beef chili, fried chicken and waffle, breakfast taco, egg sandwich, fries, and a variety of drinks. Rolling Stone reporter Miles Klee went viral on X after sharing an expectation-vs.-reality photo of the $12 'Epic Bacon' (now removed from the menu). 'I mean quality of the meat and cooking aside, if you want to serve bacon like fries you might at least get the right size container,' he wrote. went today and here's how it actually looks — Madame Bovary Summer (@youwouldntpost) July 25, 2025 Alongside the diner, the venue includes a drive-in movie theater (R.I.P. the neighboring apartments' view), a charging station, and, often, gatherings of Tesla Takedown protestors. 'This feels very dystopian,' one reviewer wrote. Tesla owners can order from their cars and receive priority in line, but one Tesla-driving reviewer still described the visit as 'the worst dining experience of my life.' Their Tesla app's ordering feature didn't work, which is reportedly a common issue. After joining the regular line and waiting more than an hour for their food, they eventually gave up and requested a refund. 'The overall vibe was total chaos,' the reviewer said. The diner has long been a dream of Elon Musk's. In 2018, the Tesla CEO tweeted, 'Gonna put an old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in LA.' Seven years on, he declared the finished restaurant to be 'one of the coolest spots in LA!' I just had dinner at the retro-futuristic @Tesla diner and Supercharger. Team did great work making it one of the coolest spots in LA! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2025 That depends on who you ask. 'The last place I want to end up is a parking lot full of Tesla drivers,' one TikTok user said. 'I'd rather eat at an Applebees.'
ArabGT
a day ago
- Automotive
- ArabGT
Tesla Diner 's First Week Draws Crowds, Critics, and Controversy in Hollywood
A week after its bold debut in Los Angeles, Tesla Diner is continuing to spark headlines—not only for its striking design but also for the polarized reactions surrounding it. Located in the heart of Hollywood, Tesla Diner marks the brand's first foray into the restaurant world, offering a nostalgic 1950s dining experience with a futuristic Tesla twist. The two-story, 9,000-square-foot venue aims to transform EV charging into a memorable stop for food, entertainment, and brand engagement. At the core of the Tesla Diner concept is a full-service eatery paired with 80 V4 Superchargers and large outdoor cinema screens. Diners enjoy classic American fare—burgers, hot dogs, tacos—served in Cybertruck-themed packaging, with roller-skating servers enhancing the retro-futuristic ambiance. Within just six hours of opening, Tesla Diner reportedly generated around $47,000 in sales, outperforming many fast-food restaurants in the surrounding area. But the public spectacle has also drawn political and social backlash. Demonstrations outside the Tesla Diner during its opening days raised questions about the brand's broader strategies. Critics argue that the diner is more than a playful concept—it's a calculated distraction from Tesla's recent financial challenges and a move to regain public attention at a time when the company faces scrutiny. Financially, Tesla's Q1 2025 results reflected notable pressure: a 71% decline in year-over-year vehicle profits and a 20% drop in overall automotive revenue. These numbers have led some analysts to view Tesla Diner not merely as a novelty, but as a serious attempt to diversify revenue streams and reframe the brand's identity amid economic headwinds. The spectacle continued inside the diner as well. Tesla's Optimus robot made a surprise appearance during opening week, handing out popcorn and drawing social media buzz. Photos and videos of the neon décor, vintage soundtrack, and high-tech touches from Tesla Diner quickly spread online, turning the venue into a viral destination. Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla Diner will not remain a one-off. A second location is already in progress in Texas, with plans for further expansion into other major cities and along key highway routes. Musk described the project as 'an island of good food and entertainment,' signaling his ambition to reshape the EV charging experience into a lifestyle-centered ecosystem. With just one week of operations behind it, Tesla Diner has already become a flashpoint for discussion—a blend of nostalgia, innovation, and controversy that could define the next chapter in Tesla's brand journey.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
‘We got a lot of honks in solidarity': anti-Musk protests ripple at LA's Tesla Diner
Elon Musk's 'retro-futuristic' Tesla Diner in Hollywood has become a new flashpoint for the 'Tesla Takedown' movement, with dozens of protesters picketing the diner last weekend alongside inflatable tube figures of Musk performing a Nazi salute. The viral popularity of the new diner, which is surrounded by 80 Tesla charging stations and two giant movie screens, has sparked out-the-door lines, massive traffic jams, and two angry protests, all within its first week of operation. Organizers say they are protesting against what they see as the Tesla CEO's corrosive effect on US democracy, as well as the human cost of the sweeping government cuts he spearheaded while working within the Trump administration earlier this year. For months, protesters who oppose the billionaire's political power have demonstrated outside of Tesla showrooms across the US and the world, hoping that by applying pressure to Tesla, a publicly-traded company, the Tesla Takedown movement can have an impact on Musk's behavior. 'Musk thought [the diner] would be good for him, but it's actually great for anti-Tesla protesters as well, to give us increased visibility,' said Joel Lava, who has been organizing weekly Tesla Takedown protests outside a Tesla service station in Burbank, California. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Though Musk has officially left his role within the Trump administration, and has since publicly feuded with the president, the devastating effects of his so-called 'department of government efficiency' (Doge) live on, Lava said. Lava cited recent reports that the US had thrown away nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food aid this spring, in the wake of Doge's dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Global health officials have also said Musk's budget-cutting efforts have thrown global HIV prevention efforts, including the rollout of a new 'miracle' drug, into chaos. There are hometown considerations, as well, Lava added: Musk has a history of anti-trans comments, and the diner is right on the border of West Hollywood, one of LA's historic LGBTQ+ neighborhoods. Protesters outside the Hollywood diner last weekend carried signs reading 'Fuck Nazi Billionaires' and 'Boycott Tesla'. 'We WILL NOT REST until the world has internalized the truth that TESLA FUNDS FASCISM,' organizers wrote in a post advertising the demonstrations, which one Los Angeles organizer estimated attracted about 100 people on Saturday, and about 85 on Sunday. A Los Angeles police spokesperson described the two demonstrations in Hollywood as 'peaceful protests'. Social media video of the diner demonstrations showed a few apparent Musk supporters yelling at protesters, including one young man caught on video describing himself as 'a proud fascist'. Dave, a Los Angeles-based Tesla Takedown organizer, said a few drivers of newer Teslas and Cybertrucks around the diner had screamed at the protesters, and 'there were some people who were doing the Sieg Heil [salute]'. At least one Cybertruck driver had gotten out of his vehicle to confront protesters, Dave said. The organizer asked not to be identified by his full name because he feared that protesting against Musk might affect his employment opportunities. Other Tesla fans waiting in line outside the diner simply seemed confused by the political rhetoric, Dave said, and other people driving by the diner were audibly supportive. 'We got a lot of honks and fist-pumps in solidarity, and many of those were even from Tesla drivers themselves – especially the people driving the older models of Teslas,' he said. Since it opened at 4.20pm last Monday, the diner has attracted Musk fans from across southern California, as well as curious tourists. At about midday on Wednesday last week, many fans in line had brought children with them, and some said that their kids were especially excited to see Musk's diner, which they had heard about on TikTok or YouTube. One Tesla Diner customer told the LA Public Press on Saturday that the protesters' comparisons of Musk to a Nazi did not make sense to him. 'If he's a fascist, who has he killed?' the man asked. 'Nazis kill people, from what I understand.' Dave, the Tesla Takedown organizer, said the demonstrators were considering more protests outside the diner, but that the group has already received at least one social media threat that they will be assaulted if they protest again next weekend. Asked about those threatening social media posts, which came from an anonymous pro-Musk Bluesky account, an LAPD spokesperson said the department was not currently aware of 'any specific threat'. For Angelenos who live in the neighborhood surrounding Musk's new diner, its sudden popularity has sparked a litany of complaints. Local news outlets have reported that neighborhood residents have complained of the chaos and traffic it has brought to the neighborhood, including 'insane gridlock from 1pm to 1 am', and concerns about the giant movie screens blocking the view from nearby apartments. 'If you can send people to Mars, you should be able to figure out how to make this doable for residents,' one resident told ABC7 News.
CNN
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Lightning bolt strikes near delivery man
Lightning bolt strikes near delivery man Video shows a lightning strike nearly hitting a delivery man in Wayne, New Jersey, as storms took place across the Mid-Atlantic. 00:36 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 17 videos Lightning bolt strikes near delivery man Video shows a lightning strike nearly hitting a delivery man in Wayne, New Jersey, as storms took place across the Mid-Atlantic. 00:36 - Source: CNN Crocodile gets caught underneath moving truck A bystander captured video of a crocodile caught underneath a truck driving through high water in Australia at Kakadu National Park. 00:25 - Source: CNN Beyoncé brings out Destiny's Child during final show Beyoncé reunited Destiny's Child during her concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland joining her on stage to perform a medley of the group's biggest hits, as part of her final Cowboy Carter show. 00:45 - Source: CNN Gwyneth Paltrow joins Astronomer as temporary spokesperson Actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in a new ad for Astronomer, the tech firm whose former CEO and human resources chief were caught in an awkward moment on a Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert last week. Paltrow is the ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. 00:51 - Source: CNN 'South Park' skewers Trump after signing new Paramount deal In their first episode of the season, the creators of "South Park" mocked President Donald Trump and Paramount after they just signed a new $1.5 billion contract. Paramount is looking to merge with Skydance Media and needs the Trump-influenced FCC to approve the deal. 01:24 - Source: CNN Hot Chinese brands are coming to America Chinese brands like Luckin Coffee, Pop Mart, and HEYTEA are expanding in the United States, despite the ongoing trade war. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich and Marc Stewart report from two different continents on why the companies covet American customers. 02:10 - Source: CNN Fans pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Fans have gathered in Ozzy Osbourne's hometown to pay tribute to the former Black Sabbath singer, who died yesterday at the age of 76. One of them told CNN's Salma Abdelaziz that Osbourne will 'live on forever in his music.' 01:07 - Source: CNN Metal legend Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76-years-old Ozzy Osbourne, the hellraising frontman of Black Sabbath and reality TV star, has died aged 76. CNN's Stephanie Elam looks back at the legendary career as the Godfather of Heavy Metal. 03:05 - Source: CNN Missing child case from 46 years ago reopened A federal appeals court overturned the verdict of Pedro Hernandez, the bodega worker who was found guilty in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Etan Patz in 1979. Patz was 6 years old when he disappeared on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop in New York City. 01:50 - Source: CNN Tesla Diner opens in Los Angeles The first Tesla Diner opened on Monday in Los Angeles to a crowd of customers. The restaurant has Tesla chargers, a robot that serves popcorn and a drive-in movie theater. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he plans to build more diners in the future if this location succeeds. 00:58 - Source: CNN Is Coca-Cola with cane sugar healthier? Coca-Cola will launch a new soda in the US made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. CNN's Jacqueline Howard looks at the difference between the two sweeteners. 01:29 - Source: CNN Stephen Colbert addresses 'The Late Show' cancellation 'Cancel culture has gone too far,' Stephen Colbert told the audience as he began his first post-cancellation episode of 'The Late Show.' The host went on to fire back at Trump's Truth Social post celebrating the announcement by CBS. The episode also featured cameos by late night talk show hosts including Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, John Oliver and Seth Meyers. 01:24 - Source: CNN Malcolm-Jamal Warner's impact on Black community Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Cliff Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show,' has died at age 54 in a drowning accident in Costa Rica where he was on vacation with family, according to authorities. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department told CNN that Warner was swimming Sunday at Playa Grande de Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean, where the Red Cross later declared him dead. CNN's Lisa Respers France reports. 00:59 - Source: CNN International visitors to US will pay new fee CNN's Richard Quest explains how the Trump administration enacted a bill that will require international visitors to pay a new 'visa integrity fee' of $250 dollars. The fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to enter the US. 01:36 - Source: CNN Pilot apologizes after making hard turn to avoid B-52 bomber A pilot flying a Delta Air Lines regional jet apologized to his passengers on Friday after making an 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid hitting a US Air Force B-52 bomber, audio shared on TikTok from the incident shows. SkyWest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the close call. 01:08 - Source: CNN Comparing Scottie Scheffler to Tiger Woods Scottie Scheffler's win at the Open has drawn comparisons to the great Tiger Woods. CNN Sports' Patrick Snell has taken a look at some interesting stats that show Scheffler's on course for greatness. 00:38 - Source: CNN Coldplay's Chris Martin warns concertgoers Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin, could be heard warning the audience about cameras at a concert in Madison, Wisconsin. 00:50 - Source: CNN
CNN
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Tesla Diner opens in Los Angeles
Tesla Diner opens in Los Angeles The first Tesla Diner opened on Monday in Los Angeles to a crowd of customers. The restaurant has Tesla chargers, a robot that serves popcorn and a drive-in movie theater. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he plans to build more diners in the future if this location succeeds. 00:58 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 16 videos Tesla Diner opens in Los Angeles The first Tesla Diner opened on Monday in Los Angeles to a crowd of customers. The restaurant has Tesla chargers, a robot that serves popcorn and a drive-in movie theater. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he plans to build more diners in the future if this location succeeds. 00:58 - Source: CNN Crocodile gets caught underneath moving truck A bystander captured video of a crocodile caught underneath a truck driving through high water in Australia at Kakadu National Park. 00:25 - Source: CNN Beyoncé brings out Destiny's Child during final show Beyoncé reunited Destiny's Child during her concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland joining her on stage to perform a medley of the group's biggest hits, as part of her final Cowboy Carter show. 00:45 - Source: CNN Gwyneth Paltrow joins Astronomer as temporary spokesperson Actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in a new ad for Astronomer, the tech firm whose former CEO and human resources chief were caught in an awkward moment on a Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert last week. Paltrow is the ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. 00:51 - Source: CNN 'South Park' skewers Trump after signing new Paramount deal In their first episode of the season, the creators of "South Park" mocked President Donald Trump and Paramount after they just signed a new $1.5 billion contract. Paramount is looking to merge with Skydance Media and needs the Trump-influenced FCC to approve the deal. 01:24 - Source: CNN Hot Chinese brands are coming to America Chinese brands like Luckin Coffee, Pop Mart, and HEYTEA are expanding in the United States, despite the ongoing trade war. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich and Marc Stewart report from two different continents on why the companies covet American customers. 02:10 - Source: CNN Fans pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Fans have gathered in Ozzy Osbourne's hometown to pay tribute to the former Black Sabbath singer, who died yesterday at the age of 76. One of them told CNN's Salma Abdelaziz that Osbourne will 'live on forever in his music.' 01:07 - Source: CNN Metal legend Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76-years-old Ozzy Osbourne, the hellraising frontman of Black Sabbath and reality TV star, has died aged 76. CNN's Stephanie Elam looks back at the legendary career as the Godfather of Heavy Metal. 03:05 - Source: CNN Missing child case from 46 years ago reopened A federal appeals court overturned the verdict of Pedro Hernandez, the bodega worker who was found guilty in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Etan Patz in 1979. Patz was 6 years old when he disappeared on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop in New York City. 01:50 - Source: CNN Is Coca-Cola with cane sugar healthier? Coca-Cola will launch a new soda in the US made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. CNN's Jacqueline Howard looks at the difference between the two sweeteners. 01:29 - Source: CNN Stephen Colbert addresses 'The Late Show' cancellation 'Cancel culture has gone too far,' Stephen Colbert told the audience as he began his first post-cancellation episode of 'The Late Show.' The host went on to fire back at Trump's Truth Social post celebrating the announcement by CBS. The episode also featured cameos by late night talk show hosts including Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, John Oliver and Seth Meyers. 01:24 - Source: CNN Malcolm-Jamal Warner's impact on Black community Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Cliff Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show,' has died at age 54 in a drowning accident in Costa Rica where he was on vacation with family, according to authorities. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department told CNN that Warner was swimming Sunday at Playa Grande de Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean, where the Red Cross later declared him dead. CNN's Lisa Respers France reports. 00:59 - Source: CNN International visitors to US will pay new fee CNN's Richard Quest explains how the Trump administration enacted a bill that will require international visitors to pay a new 'visa integrity fee' of $250 dollars. The fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to enter the US. 01:36 - Source: CNN Pilot apologizes after making hard turn to avoid B-52 bomber A pilot flying a Delta Air Lines regional jet apologized to his passengers on Friday after making an 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid hitting a US Air Force B-52 bomber, audio shared on TikTok from the incident shows. SkyWest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the close call. 01:08 - Source: CNN Comparing Scottie Scheffler to Tiger Woods Scottie Scheffler's win at the Open has drawn comparisons to the great Tiger Woods. CNN Sports' Patrick Snell has taken a look at some interesting stats that show Scheffler's on course for greatness. 00:38 - Source: CNN Coldplay's Chris Martin warns concertgoers Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin, could be heard warning the audience about cameras at a concert in Madison, Wisconsin. 00:50 - Source: CNN
